Fair Work Ruling Gives Go-Ahead To Farstad Action This Weekend

Fair work Australia has ruled that protected industrial action at Farstad Shipping can go ahead this weekend rejecting a last-minute application by the shipping group.

But Maritime union of Australia national secretary Paddy Crumlin said the industrial umpire had not been persuaded Farstad was bargaining in good faith.

"They've had their pants pulled down in the commission," Mr Crumlin told The Australian newspaper.

Farstad went to FWA after the Industrial Relations Minister Julia Gillard had rejected renewed calls by West Australian Premier Colin Barnett and the Australian Mines and Metals Association for her to intervene in the dispute.

Farstad had urged Fair Work Australia to order the 48-hour protected action running today and Sunday to be suspended after Julia Gillard refused to intervene. The MUA has also given notice of a further 24-hour action commencing midnight Monday January 11.

A spokeswoman for Ms Gillard said the union and Farstad should sit down and resolve their differences. Under the Fair Work Act there were a number of steps each party could take to reach an outcome. "Specifically, either of the parties involved in the dispute can apply to Fair Work Australia for a good faith bargaining order, a cooling off period or conciliation," the spokeswoman said.